Massive turnout for Boston's March for Our Lives

Monday

BOSTON – Tens of thousands of young people descended on the Boston Common on Saturday, singing songs and carrying signs as part of a nation-wide student protest against gun violence.

The event, among dozens of March for Our Lives demonstrations held in the wake of the shooting that killed 14 students and three school employees at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last month, began with a two-mile march from Roxbury to the common.

The rally featured speakers from local schools - Northeastern, Harvard, Boston Collegiate Carter School, Urban Science Academy, Weston High School and Boston Latin Academy, along with teachers from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Boston Teachers Union, an organizer from a group called Violence in Boston and a student from Stoneman Douglas High School.

"I remember the absolute terror of being outside and hearing code red, run," said Leonor Muñoz, the student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, her voice rising into a scream and cracking with emotion as she spoke.
"We shouldn't have to fight for our lives, but we will, and we are," she said, spurring the crowd into a chant of "not one more!"

Molly Schwall, a junior at Hingham High School who helped organize the walk out there, said she had a sign-making party at her house last night to make signs and T shirts that say “2020 voter."

She said she feels lucky to go to a school with lots of politically active students, and encouraged her classmates to go to the march, talk about gun control on social media, register or preregister to vote, contact elected representatives and most of all, be kind to one another.

“I’ll definitely stay political and i’ll be voting in every election from 2020 on,” she said.

The marchers inspired others at the event.

“I am so inspired by the honesty, the transparency and the integrity of the kids who have spoken out on their behalf,” said Joan Thompson-Stein of Kingston.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley had the marchers on his mind when he spoke at the start of the Mass for Peace, Justice and Healing at St. Anthony Shrine on Arch Street in Boston, a few blocks from the common.

"The senseless violence of so many students being killed in the midst of a school day traumatizes all of us and has had repercussions throughout our country and around the world. The catalyst for bringing thousands of people together today has been the reaction of the students in Parkland," The cardinal said. "They have been devastated by the loss of their friends and classmates, but they have refused to be silent. They are leading our society in an examination of conscience about violence, guns and our laws and policies concerning these matters."

Katie McBrine, who is running for the Plymouth & Norfolk state senate seat, said that while Massachusetts has strong gun laws, the state can still do more.
“We don’t do enough to protect our children and our families, she said.”
She said she supports extreme risk protection orders, which would allow family members, law enforcement and medical professionals to get a court order to temporarily take away the guns of someone determined to be a risk to themselves or others.

Last week, over a million students nationwide took part in school walkouts. Many of the walkouts last 17 minutes, one minute for every person killed in the Parkland shooting. High school students from Hingham, Scituate and Weymouth staged walkouts.

Saturday's demonstration may be one of the largest protest marches in history, with nearly 1 million people expected in Washington and more than 800 sister marches from Boston to Japan.

Rallies also took place in other Massachusetts communities, including Bridgewater, Ipswich, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Springfield and Worcester. Some included voter registration.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft flew students and parents from Parkland to Washington in the team jet.

Seasoned activists have marveled at what the students accomplished so far, including a sweeping gun bill in Florida and school walkouts attended by over a million students last week, according to organizers Women's March. Oprah Winfrey and George and Amal Clooney have each donated $500,000. The cast of "Modern Family" did a public service announcement, and Broadway stars Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt recorded a song for the march.

The Women's March, Everytown for Gun Safety and the gun violence prevention group founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords provided heavy support for the march, opening the youths up to criticism that they are just pawns of left-wing organizations that have been fighting guns for years.

The students said, however, they are calling the shots, and have refused money and turned down support that doesn't align with their vision.